Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim was getting ready to block a low pitch when he thought he heard the ball hit the bat and saw it change direction.
But the home plate umpire, Chad Fairchild, didn’t hear or see the same thing in the ninth inning of the season opener. The Chicago Cubs took the lead on that play, which was disputed, before Texas eventually won 4-3 on Heim’s game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning.
As the ball rolled behind the plate, Heim waited with his glove back, thinking it would be called a foul. But when it wasn’t, he realized he had to finish the play. Michael Busch scored from second base for a 3-2 Cubs lead.
“I went to block it, heard it hit the bat, changed directions. Clearly it’s loud. In a loud environment, fans are rocking. So (Fairchild) didn’t hear it,” said Heim, who took responsibility for allowing the run. “Just got to finish the play.”
Fairchild said he ruled it a swinging strike and declined to discuss further after seeing a replay. Leclerc, who had walked Busch, was charged with a wild pitch, and Heim was charged with a throwing error.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Heim can’t assume the umpire saw the foul tip or heard anything. After a tying homer in the ninth and Heim’s game-ending hit in the 10th, the Rangers celebrated their dramatic opening win.
